Obstetrical and invalid bed.



No. 801,865. PATENTED OUT. 17, 1905.

J. HALL & H. A. PADDLBFORD. OBSTETRICAL AND INVALID BED.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1,1904.

ATTORNEY I IV V E IV TURS JZJ/zn Hall flFadcZZefozrZ B Y WITNESSES.

PATENTED OCT. 17, 1905.

J. HALL & H. A. PADD'LEFORD, OBSTETRIGAL AND INVALID BED.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES.

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I V PATENTED 0012.17, 1905.

' J. HALL & H. A. PADDLEFORD.

OBSTETRIGAL AND INVALID BED.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1,1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES. INVENTORS J3 J5 K A W A No. 801,865. PATENTED OCT. 17, 1905.J. HALL & H. A. PADDLEFORD. OBSTETRIUAL AND INVALID BED.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1904.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

WITNESSES.-

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TTNTTED STATES PATEN T FFTCE.

JOHN HALL AND HATTIE A. PADDLEFORD, OF NORTH MONROE, NEW

' HAMPSHIRE.

OBSTETRICAL AND INVALID BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed July 1, 1904. Serial No. 214,903.

To a 11/71/0777, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN HALL and HAT- 'rrn A. PADDLEFORD, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of North Monroe, in the county ofGrafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and ImprovedObstetrical and Invalid Bed, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

This invention relates to beds forinvalids and which are also adapted toafford proper support to a patient undergoing accouchement,

- and has for its object to further improve the invalid bed for whichLetters Patent No. 757,882 were granted to us on May 17, 1904.

To this end the invention consists in the novel construction andcombination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in theappended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed and appliances therefor havingfeatures of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a removablesection of a mattress-covering employed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view of a bedstead and novel appliances thereon, certain ofthese details being arranged for an elevation of the hips and lowerextremities of a patient prostrate on the bed to prevent excessivehemorrhage in obstetricalcases. Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of atable-top board employed. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view ofthebedstead and wirewoven mattress thereon, taken near the longitudinalcenter and looking toward the head end of the bedstead, showing athimble protecting an opening in the wire-woven mattress, a rockableframe carried by the frame of said mattress, and means mounted on theheadboard for controlling the rocking movement of the rockable frame.Fig. 6 is a plan view of a mattress employed. Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of an adjustable support for a detached commode vessel, and Fig. 8is a per spective view of the foot portion of a bedstead and of amodified form of the table-support or hip-support for a patientoccupying the bed.

The bedstead or couch is preferably formed of metal, having four uprightposts 8, that are connected in pairs by top cross-bars 8 8" and also bythe lower cross-rails 8 8, thus providing the head-frame and foot-frameof the bedstead, these frames being spaced apart and held upright by twoside rails 8 and the reinforcing side rails 8 which are mounted upon theside rails and are bent upward at each end, thus providing abutments 8,that prevent a lateral displacement of a mattress 9, which may be placedon a bed-bottom, such as the wire-woven bottom 10, that is carried bythe bedstead, as usual, having a supporting border-frame 10 whereon thereticulated material is stretched, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5;

The mattress 9 is formed of a suitable fabric and may have a filling ofcurled hair or other available material, which will render the mattresscomfortable, and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the portion of the mattresswhich in use is disposed adjacent to the head-frame of the bedstead isdividedlongitudinally, so as to produce two preferably equal sections 9*that are nearly half the length of the mattress. In the portion of themattress 9 that is near the center of its length and a short distancefrom the right side edge of the same a preferably oval hole is formedtherein, into which is fitted and secured a tubular ring or annularcushion 11. The ring 11, that forms a seat for a bedfast patient whenaccess to a commode vessel is necessary, is secured in place, so thatits upper side is flush with the top surface of the mattress 9, as shownin Figs. 1, 3, and 6. The opening through the cushionring 11 is normallyclosed by a cover 11, that is preferably formed of fibrous materialsimilar to that of the mattress-covering, said cover having aborder-flange of rigid material, which seats upon the cushion-ring, andthus holds the cover in place, disposing its top surface level with thatof the mattress, as appears in Fig. 3, and, in effect, rendering thecover a portion of the mattress.

A cylindrical commode vessel 12 is removably supported below and incontact with the lower surface of the cushion-ring 11, prefer-' ably bythe means shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 7. The commode vessel may withadvantage be formed of sheet metalthat is, rendered non-oxidizing by anypreferred meansthe vessel being open at the top, closed at the bot tomby the flat bottom piece 12, and provided with a bail-handle 12 Thesupport for the commode vessel comprises a base-frame formed ofresilient wirerod material that is bent near its center of length so asto produce two parallel frame members 13, spaced apart by a transversemember 13. The frame members 13 are at their ends opposite from thetransverse bar 13 coiled to form spring members a, and from saidspring-coils upwardly project two similar frame members 13", on theupper ends of which are formed the spring-coils a. The coils a are heldspaced apart by the spacingrod 13", that passes through said coils, andfrom the latter two elongated handle members 13 extend above the handlemembers 13, the handle members at their remaining ends being spacedapart and held in parallel planes by the transverse handle-bar 13 Uponthe frame members 13 a base-plate 14 is mounted and secured by means oftubular formations on its side edges that have a firm engagementtherewith, and upon said base-plate a cylindrical sheet-metal springbox1% is erected, wherein the commode vessel 12 is loosely fitted. Inthebox l fiacoiled spring 15 is placed, which seats upon the bottom ofthe spring-box and presses upon the bottom 12 of the commode vessel 12when the latter is introduced within the box, thus affording supporttherefor at a point near the upper end of the box, and to facilitate theinsertion of the commode vessel within the spring-box 14" or its removaltherefrom the bail-handle 12 before mentioned is held to rock on thevessel by pivotal engagement of its ends therewith at a proper distancefrom the open upper end of the commode vessel.

At a point which will locate it directly below the cushion-ring 11 apreferably sheet-metal thimble 16 is secured that encircles an openingin the woven-wire bed-bottom 10, the thimble having a peripheral flangethat seats on the bottom 10 around the opening and is held clampedthereon by a sheet-metal ring 16, that is secured upon the lower side ofthe bed-bottom opposite the peripheral flange by rivets or bolts thatpass through the parts mentioned and are riveted so as to bind theflange and clamping-ring upon the reticulated bed-bottom, as is shown inFig. 3. The thimble 16 projects somewhat above the peripheral flangethereon and has such form and diameter as adapts it to loosely fit intothe opening in the mattress 9 below the cushion-ring 11, that receivessupport at its lower side therefrom. The thimble 16 also extends belowthe woven-wire bed-bottom 10 in the form of a curved flange 6, (shown inFig. 5,) the flange being cut away toward the right-side framebar of thebed-bottom, so as to permit the free sliding insertion of the upper endof the commode vessel 12 into the depending portion 5 of the thimblewhen the vessel is depressed a suitable distance to permit such aninsertion to be effected.

When it is desired to place the commode vessel 12 in position foruse,after the cover 11 has been removed the resilient frame having thehandle members 13 is so positioned at the right side of the bed that thecommode vessel 12 will be directly opposite the cushion-ring 11 and thehandle members resting upon the pivot-supports of the bail-handle 12 Thehandle members 13 are now depressed sufficiently to lower the commodevessel 12 and permit the entire frame-support for the commode vessel tobe moved therewith below the bed-bottom 10 and the upper end of thecommode vessel entered within the depending thimble portion 5, itsimpinge thereon serving to arrest the vessel and give it a properposition directly below and near to the cushion-ring 11, this particularconstruction and arrangement of details relating to the commode vesseland its removable support constituting a feature of the presentimprovement.

Obviously when it is desired the commode vessel may be readily removedby simply depressing the handle members 13 and with drawing them, aswell as the rest of the frame,

from below the bed, the bail-handle on the commode vessel permitting itsconvenient removal from the spring-box when this is desired.

To avoid soiling the mattress 9, a suitable piece of waterproof fabric 9is removably secured on its upper side having an aperture thereincorresponding with the opening in the cushion-ring 11, over which thefabric and its aperture is located, and detachably held in place byhooks c, that engage the side rail of the bed.

In the mattress 9, near the cushion-ring 11, but toward the foot of thebed, another opening cl is formed that is preferably rectangular incontour, and in said opening a limb and foot protecting chamber 17 inbucket form is hung by its upper edge 17. The position of theprotecting-chamber '17 adjacent to the cushion-ring 11 permits theinvalid when seated upon the ring to introduce the lower limbs into thechamber and keep them warm, any wrappings or other warming appliancesbeing freely admitted in the chamber below the feet and around the legsof the patient, who is enabled to assume a comfortable sitting posturewhen it becomes necessary to use the commode or for sitting up when thecover 11 is on the ring 11.

As an essential article of bed furnishings a light padded covering 18,known as a comfortable, is employed for covering the mattress 9, and toenable convenient access to be had to the commode and limb-protectingchamber a corner portion 18 of said comfortable is removed and adaptedfor attachment to the main portion by means of tie-stringsf or the like,this portion of the covering 18 appearing in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Upon the top cross-bar 8? of the foot portion of the bedstead a lightmetal frame is held to rock toward and from the mattress 9,

the frame comprising two side members 19, which are held parallel witheach other and suitably spaced apart by the transverse braces 19 19 19,that are positioned at proper distances apart, the front brace orcross-bar 19 as shown, being formed integral with the side members 19 ofthe light, but strong frame. Upon the transverse brace 19 aframe-support is held to rock, this consisting of a wire rod bent toform two similar legs, each leg being formed of two members 20, that arespaced apart at their normally lower ends by the similarinverted-U-shaped members 20, one being shown at the right side of thebedstead in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that when the supporting frame having the legs 20 is inerected position the other rockable frame which it is provided tosupport will be disposed in a plane about parallel with that of thebed-bottom 10, as is shown in Fig. 1, the spacing members 20 of the legmembers 20 seating upon the reinforcing side rails 8', as is also shownfor one leg in Fig. 1.

Upon the transverse braces 19 19" a tableboard 21 is removably mountedwhen the occupant of the bed is desirous of partaking of food whileseated thereat, the details of the table-board being shown in thedetached reversed view given in Fig. 4:. There are two transversebatten-strips 21, secured on the level lower surface of the board 21,respectively near each end thereof, so as to prevent warping of thematerial and permit the board to be made up of two or more pieces thatare to be held and impinged upon each other at their side edges, if thisis desired. Near the side edges of the table-board 21 four cleats orribbed projections a are secured, a pair of said cleats being locatednear each transverse batten-strip 21*. It will be seen that by applyingthe table-board with its smooth side uppermost the ends of the cleatsathat are nearest to the battcnstrips 21 and project above them willengage with the transverse braces 19 19 andhold the table-board frommoving endwise on said braces. Two of the cleats that aline at one sideedge of the table-board have contact at their outer sides with anadjacent side member 19, the notch e at one corner of the table-boardpermitting the board to be held close to one corner of the rocking-framewhereon it is mounted.

it will be seen that an occupant of the invalid-bed may be seateduponthe cover 11, that is in the opening in the cushion-ring 11, and placethe lower limbs properly coveredin the depending chamber 17, which willenable the person to sit with his body erect at the table-board andpartake of food placed thereon, and it is to be understood that theprovision of the rockable frame, the table-board adapted for mountingupon said frame, and the depending chamber wherein the legs and feet ofan invalid may be placed are claimed &

as novel details of our present invention. At any time it becomesdesirable to close the open upper end of the chamber 17 this may beconveniently effected by placing in position over the chamber a paddedlid 17", which, in effect, renders the upper surface of the mattresscontinuous, to be subsequently covered by the section 18 of thecomfortable 18.

The prop-frame for the rockable frame may have its jointed leg members20 swung up so as to lie upon the under side of the rockable frame andbe held in such a position by means of a hook r on the top cross-bar 8"of the footsection of the bedstead, as indicated in Fig. 3, which willpermit the rockable frame having the side members 19 to incline downwardand rest the end cross-bar 19 upon the covering 18, as shown in Fig. 3.

In obstetrical cases the treatment for hemorrhage sometimes requiresthat the hips and lower limbs of the patient be elevated, and for such apurpose the rockable frame having the side members 19 is particularlywell adapted. To this end the table-board 21 is removed and in place ofit a padded cover of fibrous material, such as 22 in Fig. 3, isstretched upon and removably secured to the transverse braces 19 19 bymeans of hooks IL. The section 18 of the comfortable 19 may now beplaced upon the rockable frame while it is in- 9 clined, as shown inFig. 3, which will adapt the frame to afford a convenient inclinedsupport for the hips and lower limbs of the person to be treated.

Another novel detail of the present invention consists of a head andbody support that is inclinable at any desired degree or which may belowered into a level position, this advantageous provision consisting ofthe following details and their relative arrangement:

An inclining frame 23 is formed of a single bar or rod of metal that isbent at two points 2i equally distant from its ends, thus providing twoside members 23, that are furnished with ring-eyes m at their free ends.The ring-eyes m are mounted upon a pivotrod a, that is secured upon thebed-bottom by brackets or other available means, which hold the rodabove and quite near to the wirewoven bottom 10, this pivot-rod beinglocated at a suitable distance from the cross-rail 8 of the head-sectionof the bedstead. The inclining frame 23 may extend fully across thebedstead, if this is desired, and the rod 12. be secured at its endsupon the side bars 10 of the bed-bottom 10. As shown, the frame 23 andpivot-rod therefor extend across onehalf ofthe woven-wire bed-bottomfrom the right side bar of the bedbottom frame. Usually the incliningframe 23 is covered with a suitable fibrous fabric 23", which isstretched thereon and affords a slightly yielding support for coveringsthat may be placed upon it.

A prop frame coacts with the inclining frame for its support at anydesired inclination, and consists of a rectangular frame having twoparallel side bars 24:, that are joined at their upper and lower ends,respectively, with the upper transverse spacing-bar 24: and the lowerbar 24:". The side bars 24: are pivoted by a shaft 0 near their centersupon suitable bearings on the frame 10 or bed-bottom 10, which adaptsthe frame to rock, and in case the frame is not of the same width asthat of the bed-bottom 10 one side member 24 projects down through thelatter, thus disposing the upper and lower transverse members 2 L" 24:",respectively, above and below the wire-woven bed-bottom. The relativeposition of the prop-frame adapts the upper transverse frame member 24to have contact with the side members of the inclining frame 23, so thata rocking movement of the prop-frame will correspondingly rock andsupport the inclining frame.

A bracket'plate 8 is secured by its ends upon the head-posts 8 of thebedstead and extends horizontally across the head section. In suitablebox-bearings p, that are projected from the bracket-plates 8 at its rearside, is journaled a shaft 25, whereon are mounted and secured the endsof two spaced bands 26 and a ratchet-wheel 27, a pawl 4', that is heldto rock on the bracket-plate 8 above the shaft 25, having engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet-wheel. A small hand-wheel 25 is securedupon a laterally-projecting end of the shaft 25 for manipulation, theratchet-wheel 27 and pawl r permitting the shaft to be turned only inthe direction of the arrow when the pawl engages the wheel.

The pliable bands 26 extend downward and over the transverse head-rail 8and thence rearward, having their rear ends secured upon the lowerspacing-bar 24" of the prop-frame that presses with its upper bar uponthe inclining frame 23.

The comfortable 18 is imposed at its upper end and near said end uponthe covering 23", and it will be seen that the prop-frame may be sorockably adjusted that the inclining frame will lie nearly horizontaland the covering 18 also.

When it is desired to provide a head and back rest for an invalid who isordinarily reclining horizontally upon the bed and give such head-restand back-rest a desired inclination upward and forward or toward thehead of the bedstead, it is only necessary to turn the hand-wheel 25 inthe direction of the arrow {0, which will wrap the bands 26 at theirsecured ends upon the cross-shaft 25. This rotatable movement of theshaft 25 by wrapping the bands 26 thereon pulls upon the lower cross-bar24: and rocks the prop-frame it is a member of, so that the uppertransverse bar 24 is pressed upon the inclining frame 23, on which itslides and elevates said frame to a dethe pawl r is lifted from itsinterlocked engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 27.

Ordinarily the two sections 9 of the mattress 9 that are produced by thelongitudinal separation of the mattress into two parts from the head endtoward the opposite end are secured in a horizontal position by theengagement of hooks s thereon with the head-rail 8 of the bedstead. If,however, at any time it is found to be desirable, one section of themattress may be released from the bed-rail and placed upon the incliningframe, whereupon the rocking movement of the prop-frame by turning thehand-wheel 25 in the direction of the arrow w in Fig. 1 will wrap theend portions of the bands 26 upon the shaft 25 and raise the mattress atits head portion for the imllined support of a person who occupies thebe When the inclined head-frame 23 is to be lowered to a horizontalposition or be given a less degree of inclination, this may be effectedby releasing the pawl '1', so that the direction for rotation of thehand-wheel 25 may be reversed and the bands 26 be correspondinglyslackened, which will permit the prop-frame to rock under imposed weightand the upper portion of the bed be depressed accordingly, the pawl 9"by its hooked engagement with an appropriate tooth on the ratchet-wheel27 serving to hold the prop-frame at any inclination desired.

In Fig. 8 the means for supporting the lower limbs of a patient upwardlyinclined, or a table in a horizontal position, is shown somewhatchanged, the modification embodying the following details: Upon theupright members 8 of the foot-section of the bedstead, above the siderails 8, two boxes or like supports 4) are secured at the same height,these boxes carrying the journaled end portions of a roller-shaft 30,that is at one or both ends adapted for the engagement of a crank-handleor a hand-wheel (not shown) which when thereon mounted will enable therotary movement of the shaft in either direction. Upon the shaft 30 aratchet-wheel 31 is mounted and secured, preferably near one of theboxes 4), and on the latter a pawl o is held to rock so as to engagebetween the teeth of the ratchetwheel and when so engaged permit theshaft to rotate only in the direction of the curved arrow m in Fig. 8.At a suitable point forward of the shaft 30 two like arms 32 are pivotedby a lower end of each, respectively, upon the side rails 8 of thebedstead. The arms 32 are straight on their front sides, and saidstraight sides at their lower ends have contact with ends ofabutment-strips 33, that are projected outwardly from the side rails 8The'arms 32 may be rocked forward and lie upon the strips 33, and as thepivots w for the arms are slightly above the upper surface of theabutment-strips 33 it will be seen that sired inclination, which willnot change until l when the arms are rocked upward the contact of theirlower ends upon ends of said strips will prevent them from rockingrearward after they are in erect positions. A stretcher-rod 34 isremovably engaged at its ends with the upper ends of the arms 32-, andas the latter are equally distant from the roller-shaft 30 thestretcher-rod when in place is parallel with the roller-shaft, asappears in Fig. 8. Upon the stretcher-rod 34 one end of a strongcanvasapron 35 is secured, and from it the fabric is extended rearward overthe upper transverse foot-rail 8 and thence down to the roller-shaft 30,whereon the remaining end'of the pliable fabric is secured, and theapron 35 may be of any desired width which will not exceed the lateraldimension of the bedstead. Preferably, however, the apron isconsiderably less in width than the length of the roller-shaft, as isshown in Fig. 8.

It will be seen that if the arms 32 are erected and the stretcher-rod 34is connected therewith a rotation of the roller-shaft 30 in thedirection of the arrow a" will stretch the apron 35 so as to render ittaut and adapt it to support a table-board or serve as a table-topalone, if preferred.

Near the lower ends of the arms 32 a hook y is secured on each side rail8 one being shown in Fig. 8, and it will be seen that if thestretcher-rod 34 is detached from the arms 32 the apron 35 may beinclined downward and forward and the stretcher-rod be engaged with themating hooks 1 thathook forwardly, after which the apron may be renderedtaut by a rotatable adjustment of the roller-shaft 30.

It will be seen that the canvas apron 35 will serve as a support for thehips and lower limbs of a patient, it being understood that thebedbottom and mattress are in position on the bedstead, and the mattressmay be raised at the foot and placed upon the apron, so as to protectthe person of the occupant of the bed from contact with thestretcher-rod, this construction being the equivalent of the rockableframe hereinbefore described and that serves the same purpose.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as. new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In an invalid and obstetrical bed, thecombination with a wire-woven bed-bottom supported on a bedstead, saidbottom having an opening, and a thimble clamped in the opening, thethimble comprising an upwardly-projected encircling flange fitted in theopening and extended above it, and a downwardly-extended arcuate flangethat affords an opening into it at one side, of a mattress on thebedbottom having an opening which receives the upwardly-extendedencircling flange, a pliable ring in the opening in the mattress seatingnear its periphery on the encircling flange, a

commode vessel mounted upon a frame that is movable, aspiral springcarried by the frame and pressing upon the bottom wall of the commodevessel, said vessel being located directly below the pliable ring bylaterally moving its upper end into the arcuate flange that is projeetedfrom the bed-bottom.

2. In an obstetrical and invalid bed, a supported mattress having twoadjacent openings therein, a pliable cushion-ring held in one of saidopenings, a commode vessel supported below the mattress and having itsupper end disposed near the pliable ring, and achamber open only at theupper end, and hung in the other opening in the mattress, said chamberreceiving and protecting the lower limbs of the person seated on or nearthe pliable ring in an upright posture, which enables the body and limbsto be completely covered when using the commode.

3. In an invalid-bed of the character described, the combination withthe bedstead, the oppositely-apertured bed-bottom and mattress thereon,and the pliable cushion-ring secured in the aperture in the mattress, ofa spring-supported commode vessel, said vessel and its supportcomprising a resilient frame of wire rod material bent to provide twospaced parallel side bars joined together at the outer end by atransverse handle-bar, a baseplate mounted on the side bars, a box fixedon the base-plate, a coiled spring in said box, a commode vessel havinga bail handle and seated in the box on the spring, spring-coils on therear ends of the side bars, upright frame members projected from saidcoils, spring-coils on the upper ends of the upright frame members, andhandle members extended forward from the upper spring-coils respectivelyat opposite sides of the spring-box and commode vessel, said handlemembers being joined together at their forward ends.

4. In an obstetrical and invalid bed, the combination of a frame havingresilient handle members, a rigid base-plate thereon, a cylindrical box'on the base-plate, acylindrical commode vessel slidable in the box, acoiled spring in the box whereon the commode vessel seats, a bail-handleon the commode vessel whereon the resilient handle members rest in anearly horizontal position, pressure on said handle members lowering thecommode vessel by compression of the coiled spring.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN HALL. HATTIE A. PADDLEFORD.

Witnesses:

J ENNETT W. PEABoDY, JAMES Ur. PEABoDY.

